Does the Su-35 challenge US sales to South Korea (479 words)

Published: 3/5/2001

The Russian Military News Agency, AVN, reports that the super agile single-seat Su-35 (also known as the Su-27M) has obtained an export licence. It might be sold to South Korea as, potentially, part of the recently negotiated arms package. It also holds out the possibility of the Sukhoi winning the long-standing F-X fighter contract for 40 aircraft, in a tender worth $4.2 billion. It involves competition from the Eurofighter, Rafale and the F-15E, with a decision expected within the next few months. The South Korean demand is also expected to extend to another 40 aircraft in a few years time. Sukhoi has been interested in the Korean contract for some time. So keen, in fact, that two years ago the design bureau was reported to be offering the Koreans a Su-35 powered by the F-16 P&W F100 engine (as used in the country's existing force of F-16s), to reduce cost of operation by creating greater commonality. Although nothing came of the proposal, South Korean pilots reportedly completed 18 flights in a two-seat Su-35UB, in October 2000. This formed part of a process for the review of all the contenders, including flights in the F-15E during the middle of the month. The Su-35/37 carries an estimated price ticket of $30m. It is unclear whether the US, already concerned about Russia's increasing share of the global defence market given its estimated sales of $3.8 billion in 2000, will be keen to see any possible sale go through. Were the South Koreans (one of the US's closest allies) to develop defence equipment relationships with the Russians beyond the easing of the $1.9 billion Russian debt to South Korea through the supply of equipment, the Americans would attempt to persuade them of the virtues of the F-15K. This has been specifically developed for the South Korean requirement, with a podded infrared search and tracking (IRST) system, to replace South Korea's F-4D/Es and F-5s. This would be particularly important for the aircraft's producer Boeing, which needs the further orders to keep its F-15 line open. Any closure would have the effect of markedly increasing the aircraft's price through the cost of a re-start. The upgrade is also being considered as an upgrade for the USAF's F-15E. Any deal that is done, will offer considerable co-production opportunities to the producer's Korean partners, as demonstrated by the earlier programme between Samsung Aerospace and Lockheed Martin for the production of the F-16. The Su-35 has also been heavily promoted to another traditionally heavy user of US equipment, the Australian Air Force, in conjunction with the Su-32FN. The aircraft package is destined to be a contender for the long-term fighter/strike aircraft replacement of the F-18 and F-111.Sukhoi has already dangled the carrot of considerable offset work in front of Australian aerospace producer DeHavilland.

Article ID: 2393